State
Illegal deer carcass import cases mounting
Clarion Ledger
A new regulation adopted by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks bans the importation of certain deer parts into Mississippi from areas with chronic wasting disease and so far the department has cited 12 hunters suspected of not complying.
MISSISSIPPI POWER: KEMPER PLANT ON TRACK TO MEET DEC. 31 START
MPB
Mississippi Power says its Kemper County Energy Facility is on track to meet a December deadline to produce electricity using coal. As MPB's Mark Rigsby reports, the project is billions over budget and years behind schedule.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2016/12/01/mississippi-power-kemper-plant-on-track/
Biloxi Bay oyster reefs closed
WLOX
BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -After opening on Nov. 1 for the first time since 1962, the Biloxi Bay oyster reefs have been closed.
http://www.wlox.com/story/33830049/biloxi-bay-oyster-reefs-closed
Mississippi gets $33 million for emergency operations
Clarion Ledger
The state of Mississippi has gained access to $33 million in federal grant money to be used to beef up coordination among emergency responders statewide.
Cans for Kids: Gary Turbville
WTOK
LAUDERDALE CO, Miss. (WTOK) - This month's Eleven Who Care nominee wants to help kids in need. And he isn't asking for much - just your trash.
http://www.wtok.com/content/news/Cans-for-Kids-Gary-Turbville-403871806.html
Oil Spill
How the Coast can win over Legislature in BP battle
Sun Herald
GAUTIER
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves’ final town hall — which sought ideas on how to spend part of Mississippi’s BP settlement — revealed no new ideas but did uncover some opposition to old ones.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/article118064968.html
Reeves holds final public hearing on BP settlement money
WLOX
GAUTIER, MS (WLOX) -For weeks, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves has been asking Coast residents how they spend $750 million.
http://www.wlox.com/story/33836679/reeves-has-third-and-final-public-hearing-on-bp-settlement-money
FINAL BP TOWN HALL MEETING
WXXV
Today was the last chance for residents to pitch ideas to state legislators about how the BP oil spill disaster money should be spent.
http://www.wxxv25.com/2016/11/30/final-bp-town-hall-meeting/
Got Ideas for Spending the BP Oil Spill Settlement?
WRKF
With BP, TransOcean and Anadarko settling claims from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill earlier this year, you now have the opportunity to weigh in on how that money should be spent.
http://wrkf.org/post/got-ideas-spending-bp-oil-spill-settlement#stream/0
Alabama hits bulls-eye with BP purchases, but huge portions of the coast still need protection
Al.com
Alabama made up for lost time with the coastal land purchases and projects announced last week.
http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2016/11/alabama_hits_bulls-eye_with_bp.html
National
Obama stays busy on environmental front in final weeks
AP
WASHINGTON
Citing fears of a Donald Trump presidency, environmental groups are urging President Barack Obama to stay busy in his final weeks.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/nation-world/article118140258.html
Obama administration will keep tough fuel standards in place
Washington Post
The Obama administration says it plans to stick with strict fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks for the model years 2022 to 2025, despite protests from some automakers and concern about how the incoming Trump administration might alter them.
EPA decides not to weaken car efficiency rules
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) won’t weaken the car fuel efficiency standards it set in 2012, despite pleas from the auto industry.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/308087-epa-decides-not-to-weaken-car-efficiency-rules
Congress moves closer to finalizing water bill
The Hill
Lawmakers are inching closer to finalizing a major waterways bill but have not reached a decision on whether and how to include emergency aid for the lead-contaminated community of Flint, Mich.
http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/308222-congress-moves-closer-to-finalizing-water-bill
Plastic Island
How our throwaway culture is turning paradise into a graveyard
CNN
Midway Atoll, North Pacific Ocean (CNN) -- The distance from humanity yawns out in front of you when you stand on the pale sands of this tiny Pacific island.
http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2016/12/world/midway-plastic-island/
Press Releases
Robust Technical Analysis Supports Leaving Carbon Pollution Standards for Cars and Light Trucks in Place Through 2025, EPA Administrator Finds
Automakers on track to meet standards at lower than expected cost
WASHINGTON — Based on extensive technical analysis that shows automakers are well positioned to meet greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for model years 2022-2025, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy today proposed leaving the standards in place, so the program that was established in 2012 will stay on track to nearly double fuel economy, dramatically cut carbon pollution, maintain regulatory certainty for a global industry, and save American drivers billions of dollars at the pump.
“Given the auto industry’s importance to American jobs and communities and the industry’s need for certainty well into the future, EPA has reanalyzed these clean car standards and sought further input,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “It’s clear from the extensive technical record that this program will remain affordable and effective. This proposed decision reconfirms our confidence in the auto industry’s capacity to drive innovation and strengthen the American economy while saving drivers money at the pump and safeguarding our health, climate and environment.”
Today’s proposed determination is based on years of technical work, including an exhaustive technical report released earlier this year, and the agency’s thorough review and consideration of comments received on that report. This extensive body of analysis shows that manufacturers can meet the standards at similar or even a lower cost than what was anticipated in the 2012 rulemaking, and that the standards will deliver significant fuel savings for American consumers, as well as benefits to public health and welfare from reducing the pollution that contributes to climate change. Full implementation of the standards will cut about 6 billion metric tons of GHG emissions over the lifetimes of the vehicles sold in model years 2012-2025. Cars and light trucks are the largest source of GHG emissions in the U.S. transportation sector.
Although EPA’s technical analysis indicates that the standards could be strengthened for model years 2022-2025, proposing to leave the current standards in place provides greater certainty to the auto industry for product planning and engineering. This will enable long-term planning in the auto industry, while also benefiting consumers and the environment.
Today’s announcement builds on years of success under EPA’s vehicle emission standards. Auto manufacturers are innovating and adopting fuel economy technologies at unprecedented rates. Car makers have developed more technologies to reduce GHG emissions, and these technologies are entering the fleet faster than expected. These technologies include gasoline direct injection, more sophisticated transmissions, and stop-start systems that reduce idling fuel consumption. At the end of 2015, all large automakers were in compliance with the standards. In fact, automakers on average out-performed the model year 2015 standards by seven grams per mile. These gains are happening at a time when the car industry is thriving, and domestic vehicle sales have increased for six consecutive years, while maintaining consumer choice across a full range of vehicle sizes and types.
As part of the rulemaking establishing the model year 2017-2025 light-duty vehicle GHG standards, EPA committed to conduct a Midterm Evaluation of standards for model years 2022-2025. The public comment period for this action begins today and will end on December 30, 2016. After the comment period has ended and consideration of the input, the Administrator will decide whether she has enough information to make a final determination on the model year 2022-2025 standards.
For more information on today’s announcement, go to: https://www.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engines/midterm-evaluation-light-duty-vehicle-greenhouse-gas-ghg.
To provide comment on today’s proposed determination, go to Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0827 at www.regulations.gov.
Biloxi Bay oyster reefs closed Nov. 30
BILOXI, Miss. – Oyster reefs in the Biloxi Bay were closed Wednesday, Nov. 30, because of poor water samples, officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources said.
Area V “A” includes the Biloxi Bay Reef and the Shearwater Reef, which was open only to tonging.
The reefs opened Nov. 1 for the first time since 1962.
All other current rules and regulations remain in effect. For more information, call the Oyster Hotline at 228-374-5167 or 1-800-385-5902.
Drought Assistance Available For Mississippi Producers
Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture / Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
will direct $500,000 in financial and technical assistance for fiscal year 2017 to assist Mississippi producers with
possible adverse impacts of the recent drought conditions throughout the state. This funding will be available
through the Environment Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Producers, farmers and ranchers can apply for
EQIP and obtain more information at their local NRCS office.
EQIP is a voluntary program designed to provide financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers
with the planning and implementation of conservation practices that improve soil, water, plants, animals, air
and related natural resources on private agricultural and forest land. These funds can be used to assist with
water relocation methods to provide emergency rehabilitation and drought resistant options for grazing and
cropping operations. Some of the conservation practices eligible are residue management, mulching, pumping
plants, irrigation systems, micro-irrigation, irrigation pipelines, water well and watering facilities.
NRCS accepts applications for EQIP on a continuous basis, however there are certain dates assigned to rank
applications. The deadline for consideration in the first ranking period for the drought initiative
is December 23, 2016.
"The Environmental Quality Incentives Program offers producers a variety of options to conserve natural
resources on their properties", stated Kurt Readus, NRCS State Conservationist for Mississippi.
"This conservation investment helps improve inadequate water supply and poor plant health in Mississippi."
To qualify for EQIP, an applicant must be an individual, entity or joint operation that meets EQIP
eligibility criteria. NRCS financial-assistance programs offer a continuous sign-up; however,
applications received by December 23, 2016, will be considered for funding in this ranking period.
For more information about EQIP, visit the NRCS website:
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/ms/programs/financial/eqip/?cid=nrcs142p2_017159
To locate your local service center, visit local USDA service center/ NRCS office.
World Soil Day - Astronomy Meets Agronomy With ‘out of this World’ Message
Jackson, Miss. – When it comes to soil, most think agronomy not astronomy. However, a new public
service campaign featuring astronomer Laura Danly, Ph.D., suggests there’s a universal connection
between the stars, the soil and all of the residents of the wonderful planet we call Earth. It’s a connection
that is especially significant on December 5, which the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations has deemed World Soil Day.
Danly, who is the curator of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California and a former NASA
astronomer, recently teamed up with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to lend her
voice in a new public service campaign to highlight the importance of improving the health of Earth’s
living and life-giving soil.
“The more I learn about our amazing universe, the more I realize what a special home we have within that
universe – right here on planet Earth,” Danly stated. “One of the things that makes planet Earth such a
special place is its living soil.”
“Unfortunately, soil is one earthly resource that’s often overlooked, underappreciated and too often
degraded,” stated Kurt Readus, NRCS State Conservationist for Mississippi. “Especially on World Soil Day,
it’s important to recognize that healthy soil and the teeming life within it, could very well help us address
some of our biggest challenges with our ecosystem.”
“Not only does soil feed and clothe us, but we now know that improving the health of our soil can
help us mitigate climate change impacts, improve water quality and quantity, increase food production
and improve wildlife and pollinator habitat,” Readus stated.
Through NRCS’ “Unlock the Secrets in the Soil” campaign, Readus hopes urban consumers will
become more aware of the role soil health plays in their environment, food, lives and futures. “In rural areas,
we’ll be connecting with actual farmers, ranchers and landowners who can adopt soil health management
systems – which is good for the farm, the environment and the farmer’s bottom line,” Readus stated.
Danly, who is also a frequent guest on the History Channel’s “The Universe,” said recognizing the connection
between the stars and the soil is something that she wants to help her fellow Earthlings more fully understand and appreciate.
“Ours is the only planet we know that has life on it, so it’s natural for me to want to talk about
Earth and share some important messages with people about how we can make it healthier.
We can reach for the stars,” Danly stated, “but we must cherish the soil.”
For more information on how NRCS is working with farmers to “Unlock the Secrets in
the Soil,” visit www.nrcs.usda.gov .
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